I recently read a book by Louie Giglio — The Comeback: It’s Never Too Late and You’re Never Too Far. My “inner lawyer” was riled (as Paul Tripp might say). I object to the notion that God offers his people “comebacks.” There is too much suffering. Too much pain. Too many stories of defeat that end in death and desolation. This may sound a bit strong, but my soul was hostile toward this book from the moment I saw the cover. I… Read more

Progressive evangelicalism increasingly markets itself as a friend to the abused. One way this occurs is by speaking about abuse, while the conservative counterpart fumbles with the issue of abuse and trauma (admittedly so). I’m very thankful for the friends of the abused, because there are not many places where Christianity and abuse-awareness intersect. At least 25% of people in the pews are dealing personally with sexual trauma and triggers, and over a third are dealing with general PTSD. However, as progressives speak… Read more

The spirit who bideth by himself In the land of mist and snow, He loved the bird that loved the man Who shot him with his bow. (Samuel Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner) This is a commissioning of sorts—of the ship Vulnerable Theology—and with all commissionings and commencements, it includes an unbearably long charge (it is a manifesto of sorts, as much as a blog can be a manifesto). The title Vulnerable Theology got mixed reviews. Although I… Read more

An excerpt from the DSM-5 which presents the American Psychological Association’s taxonomy for different kinds of anxiety, as well as each kind’s respective diagnostic features. Like the WebMD “Symptom Checker,” I’m convinced that this excerpt will cause you to be anxious that you, in fact, have an anxiety disorder. Welcome to the human race. Read more

“I wish I had a list of all the most perverted and private sins of the most venerated saints of church history,” my friend mused. I agreed, “Yeah, I would flip immediately to the 21st century.” To judge? No. To belay my deep seated sense of what is increasingly being called “imposter syndrome”—“ Having to live with a nagging fear of being ‘found out’ as not being as smart or talented or deserving or experienced or (fill-in-the-blank).” To all “imposters”—the very least… Read more